Forceps



Nov. 22, 1938. A. W. ANDERSON FORGEPS Filed DeO. 13 1937 Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to forceps, and particularly to surgical forceps.

The main object of the invention is to produce forceps comprising a minimum number of parts, simple in construction and eiiicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for actuating the forceps fingers. In my construction, the fingers are located in a tubular body, in normally concealed and retracted position. 'I'he manually operable means for actuating the fingers is designed to exert direct pressure on the fingers, in the direction of their intended movement through the tubular body. This arrangement prevents binding of the fingers in the tubular body, which is likely to occur when the fingers are actuated by means of pivotally connected levers, one secured to the tubular body and the other to the fingers.

Another advantage of the invention is the construction of a pair of forceps fingers from a single piece of initially coiled wire.

Another advantage is the provision of means of limiting the longitudinal movement of the ngers relatively to the tubular body, whereby strain on and wearing of the fingers is avoided.

It will be understood that a single nger, provided at one end with a cutting edge or other implement, may be substituted for the'usual pair of cooperating fingers; also that any desired number of fingers or pairs of fingers may be embodied in the construction herein shown and described. In that embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, I have illustrated several forms of forceps each provided with a pair of cooperating fingers, but the invention is applicable to instruments other than forceps, and the use of that term is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of forceps embodying my invention, the fingers being in retracted position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing thefingers extended beyond the tubular body.

Figs. 3 and 4 are longitudinal sectional views of modied forms of construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing, in section, a modified form of the rearward end of the forceps shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, shown in Figs. l and 2, the tubular body I0 is provided with a manually engageable member in the form of a radially extending flange I I fixedly secured to or integral with the tube III a short distance from one end. A tubular plunger I2,

(Cl. 12S-321) larger in diameter than the tube I0, is adapted to have telescoping movement relatively to said tube I0 which fits within the member I2. The plunger member I2, as shown, is closed at one end by any suitable means, such as the flat headed screw I3, or the parts IZ and I3 may be made integral, in the form of an elongated cap, if desired.

The forceps fingers I4, I5, are made of a single piece of wire, such as piano wire, initially arcuate, bent between its ends, and attached at its bent portion I6 to the screw I3, within the tubular member I2. Each finger I4, I5 is as long as the combined length of the tubular members I0 and I2 in their assembled relationship, as shown in Fig. 1. A coiled spring I1 surrounds the fingers I4, I5, in that portion between the end IB of the tube I0 and the closed end I3 of the plunger I2, the opposite ends of the spring I'I bearing on said ends I8 and I3, respectively, and tending to draw the fingers I4, I5 into the tubular member III.

The free ends I9, 20, of the ngers I4, I5, respectively, may be bent, as shown, or provided with gripping or'cuttingV devices which not only serve their intended purposes in surgical procedures, but bear against the open end of the tube I0 and prevent the fingers from being retracted into the tube I0 beyond said end.

To extend' the fingers I4, I5, the operator manually engages the forward face of the flange II, and by pressing against the end I3 of the plunger I2, the latter slides over the tube I0 and compresses the spring II, moving the fingers I4, I5 longitudinally of the tube II) and causing the finger ends to move outwardly in arcuate paths and divergent directions. When pressure on the plunger I2 is relieved, the spring II expands and forces the plunger and attached fingers I4, I5 to travel in the opposite direction, the ends I9, 2S of the fingers being thus retracted and moved toward each other into gripping positions. When fully retracted, the fingers are concealed within and protected by the tubular body I0.

In that embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the tube ID is slightly longer than the tube I0 in Fig. l, and the tubular plunger I2 has been dispensed with. Instead, a solid plunger 2I, having a head 22, is adapted to have telescoping movement within the tube I 0. The spring 23 surrounds the plunger 2| and part of the tubeA I0, rearwardly of the flanged member 24, and bears at one end against the plunger head 22 and at the other end against said member 24. The fingers I4, I5 are attached to the inner, forward end of the plunger 2|. In this form, the tube I0 is provided with a cross piece 25 in its forward end, for preventing the ngers I4, I5 from being retracted beyond said cross piece 25 into the tube IIJ. The operation will be understood from the explanation given in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 4, the tube I0 has fixed to one end a ianged member 26. A plunger 21 extends into said member 26 and tube IUI. A at spring 28 is connected at one end 29 to the rearward end of the plunger 21 and at its other end 30 to the flanged member 26. In other respects the con` struction is similar to the form shown in Fig. 3.

To extend the fingers I4, I5, the operator en-V gages the forward face of the flanged member 26, and presses against the plunger 2`I` and spring 28, compressing the spring'V and forcing the plunger 2'I and fingers I4, I5 forwardly. WhenA pressure is relieved, the spring causes the fingers to be retracted.

In Fig. 5, I have shown means' for limiting the longitudinal retractive movement of the fingers I4, I5, which may be substituted for the con# struction shown in Figs.- 1 and 2. The collar 3I on the tubular body I0 is engaged by the inturried edge 32 of the tubular plunger I2 when the ngers are in their fully retracted position. This arrangement obviates the need for means such as the cross piece 25 or engagement of the ends I9, 20 with the mouth of the tube I0, for preventing the ng'ers from being drawn into the tube beyond the intended extent.

Fingers of diiere'nt lengths may be substituted for the ngers I4, I 5, and the tubular body I0 may be round or square, and of any size suitable for receiving one or more fingers.

Changes may be made in details of construction Without departing from the scope of my invention and I do not intend to be limited to the exact form shown and described, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. Forceps comprising a tubular body, a single length of Wire bent midway between its ends and located in said tubular body, said wire forming fingers which cross each other near their free Vends and near the bent portion of said wire within said tubular body, and actuating means connected to the bent portion of said Wire and movable relatively to the tubular body for extending said fingers beyond the mouth of the tubular body in divergent, quickly spreading arcuate directions.

2. Forceps comprising a tubular body, a single length of wire bent midway between its ends and located in said tubular body, said wire forming r'iger's which cross each other near their free ends and near the bent portion of said `wire Within said tubular body, actuating means connected to the bent portion of said wire and movable relatively to the tubular body for extending said fingers beyond the mouth of the tubular body in divergent, quickly spreading arcuate directions, and expansible means associated with the tubular body and said actuating means for normally holding the ngers in retracted position and concealed Within the tubular body.

ALFRED W. ANDERSON. 

